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Sunday, June 20, 2010

Sunday Salon/TBR Readathon : How Did You Do?

Whew!! What a week of reading...

I must say I am pretty impressed with how well I did this week with the TBR Read-a-thon. This is my first experience with a read-a-thon and I wasn't really sure how much reading I would get done considering that I am still working and had some previous engagements in the evenings. I completed all 5 books I set out to read, and seeing that it is only 2:00 on Sunday I may be able to finish one more if I really work at it today.

The books I read and my thoughts on them...

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
This book was a super powerful read, I could barely get through a page without wanting to tear into the next one. The idea behind the book is that a teenage girl has committed suicide and she has left behind 13 audiotapes that outline the 13 people that played a part in her decision to take her own life. The tapes are sent to each person individually and if the chain is broken before the 13th person listens to the tapes a second set of tapes will be released to the media. This is a story about the destructive power of rumours, gossip and teenage life. Although no one person is the catalyst that forces the girl to take her life, each person is a part of a larger tapestry that weaves the story together. Every teenager should read this book, and every parent should read it with their teenager.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
A short novella from the Twilight Saga. I enjoyed this book because it gave the reader a different perspective and viewpoint of the Twilight story. I find it very interesting when authors describe characters as real people and say that they wanted their story told. It makes the Twilight story seemed even more complex and intriguing when you think about how many other characters could possibly have their stories told as well? (Also read as part of the 2010 EW Summer Reading Challenge)

Extras by Scott Westerfeld
I have been meaning to read this book forever! I initially read the Uglies, Pretties, Specials trilogy last summer and Extras has been on my TBR pile all year. I must say that the 4th book was just as good as the first three. This is another series that I think is a must read for teens. The dystopian aspects and the ideas of the world being destroyed by Rusties (us) because of their overwhelming need for resources is very current and very interesting. This series would be great for a literature study with a class that is particularly eco-conscious. It's an easy read and doesn't have to be very deep unless you want to read more into the "Big Brother" aspects of the society (in all four books) but if you want to think deeply there is tons there as well. A great beach book!

Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
I enjoyed this book as much as the first two in the series and will definitely read the last two in the series. I think it's a great series for kids, and I strongly recommend series for young readers because it allows them to delve deeply into a story and the characters themselves. I do not, however, think it is a better series than the Harry Potter, Hunger Games, or other similar series for kids. It's a good fun, easy read that kids will definitely like.

Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
I always enjoy reading Nicholas Sparks books, they may be formulaic and easy to predict in parts but, man can they tug on your heart strings. This book was a great read and grabbed me from the very start. I enjoyed the dual storylines of the two teenagers in love, and a father and his daughter attempting to reconstruct their relationship. By the end of this book I was in tears and fully immersed in the stories of these characters. I think this book is perfect for those teen readers who want to move on from YA but aren't really ready for full on adult fiction yet. Another great beach book.

I am looking forward to seeing how other people did one the read-a-thon and learn about some more good reads.